Congratulations, you’re pregnant! And hungry! Really, really hungry. What gives? Thanks to a rollercoaster of hormonal shifts and the fact that you’re growing a human being inside of you, feeling extra hungry during pregnancy isn’t just common, it’s normal. But what exactly is behind pregnancy hunger and what does it mean for your baby? 

Hunger in early pregnancy

As your levels of progesterone and estrogen start to fluctuate, you may find yourself feeling extra hungry during early pregnancy. This is thanks to your body working overtime developing your precious little bub!

Rest assured, feeling hungry all the time when you’re pregnant is a common pregnancy symptom. As you progress further along into pregnancy, you’ll need to start upping your calories to meet the needs of your growing baby. 

Is my baby hungry when I’m hungry during pregnancy?

While your baby is nourished by what you eat and drink during pregnancy, the sensation of hunger isn’t directly shared between you and your little one. So just because you’re feeling like you could eat an entire bakery and more doesn’t mean your babe feels the same way. 

As your body naturally demands more nutrients during pregnancy, this causes you to feel hungry more often. While this may be confused as your baby being hungry, it actually signifies the need for extra calories to support both fetal and maternal development. 

Pregnancy hunger pains

With increased metabolism and hormonal changes during pregnancy, you may find yourself dealing with pregnancy hunger pains. Whether these hit in the middle of the night or right when you wake up, they aren’t exactly pleasant and can lead to unhealthy habits to satiate your hunger. 

To help combat pregnancy hunger pangs, it’s recommended to add some extra fibre to your dinner. Since your body digests fibre at a slower rate, eating foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains at dinner will help keep you fuller for longer. It’s also recommended to prepare healthy pregnancy snacks ahead of time, ready for when hunger strikes to avoid reaching for processed foods. 

Not hungry during pregnancy

On the contrary, you may find yourself not hungry during pregnancy. With around 60% of women experiencing food aversions during pregnancy, the idea of eating the foods you once loved may leave you feeling sick and nauseated. 

As morning sickness generally lasts until week 14 of pregnancy (even longer for some), you may find yourself loving foods in later pregnancy that you couldn’t stand during your first trimester. While appetite changes during pregnancy aren’t likely to harm you or your baby, we recommend speaking to a medical professional if you have any concerns. 

Why am I so hungry during pregnancy?

At the end of the day, you’re growing a little one. You’re going to be hungry! As your baby starts demanding more nourishment, you’ll need to steadily gain weight to meet your little one’s needs. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone lead to an increased appetite, so experts recommend getting an extra 200 calories a day in the final 3 months of pregnancy. 

How to help manage pregnancy hunger?

Rest assured, once you deliver that precious little baby of yours, those pesky pregnancy hunger pains should subside. That is unless you’re breastfeeding - then you’ve got a whole new world of extra calories and water needed to keep your body satiated and well while nourishing your child. If you’re feeling extra hungry during pregnancy, try sipping on one of our delicious herbal tea blends crafted specifically for mamas to be. Packed full of natural, organic herbs that keep you and your baby healthy, ensuring you’re well nourished with lots of goodness can be a great addition to your pregnancy journey.